More Atlanta Motor Speedway News

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NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day

“Make the Racing Different Each Time” – Kyle Larson Takes a Sly Jab at NASCAR Making Changes to Tracks Every Year

Kyle Larson in the pre-race interview ahead of the Atlanta race, expresses his displeasure about the continuous track changes.
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC – MAY 21: Kyle Larson ( 5 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet) talks with members of hi

NASCAR’s Attempt to Hype Ford’s Early Atlanta Domination Leaves Racing Fanbase Divided

NASCAR's attempt to hype Ford's early domination at Atlanta divide the NASCAR world, with fans picking their favorite driver's side.
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“He’s Terrible” – Alex Bowman Takes a Cheeky Dig at Denny Hamlin While Making His Feelings Clear About the JGR Driver Post Chicago

Intense Rivalry between Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman heats up after a recent clash at Chicago which leads to Bowman calling Hamlin a "hack."
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Defending Champion Joey Logano Admits He Isn’t a Top Driver Anymore in a Cryptic 6-Word Message

In a pre-race presser at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, defending champion Joey Logano delivers a 6-word cryptic message on his poor performance.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 – Qualifying

Richard Childress’s Likely Successor Believes Kyle Busch’s Addition Could Take RCR Back to Its Kevin Harvick Glory Days

Kyle Busch's addition to Richard Childress Racing sparks hope for a return to the team's glory days, reminiscent of the Kevin Harvick era.
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After Conquering Atlanta Slump in 19th Attempt, Can Joey Logano Crush ‘Desperate’ Chase Elliott Playoff Hopes & Relive His “Full Circle” Moment?

Will Chase Elliott be able to get his first victory at Atlanta, after removing the defending champion, the No. 22 Ford Mustang driver?
Joey Logano Chase Elliott

Massive Blow for Bubba Wallace and Kyle Busch as Atlanta Weekend Already Turning Sour for the Two

As NASCAR racers prepare for the Quaker State 400, the tension keeps rising. But things are not the best for Kyle Busch and Bubba Wallace.
Kyle Busch and Bubba Wallace

Kyle Busch Eats His Pride as He Reveals Plan of Turning His Son Into a “Kyle Larson-Type” Racer

Despite being one of the best drivers of all time, Kyle Busch wants his son to be a racer like Kyle Larson. Busch reveals why.
Kyle Busch and Brexton

‘Frustrated’ Bubba Wallace Didn’t Bite His Tongue as Reporter Tries to Dig Out Mysterious “Secrets” of Qualifying Woes at Atlanta

Bubba Wallace faces frustrating qualifying issues at Atlanta Motor Speedway as he keeps the "secrets" of his car trouble.
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Kyle Busch Unveils Wild Rivalry With Kevin Harvick as He Declares a War of Racing Fathers

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Untitled design (3)

About Atlanta Motor Speedway

USA Today via Reuters

Atlanta Motor Speedway- 2021 Latest News, Winners, Qualifying, Track

Atlanta Motor Speedway (in the past Atlanta International Raceway) is a 1.5-mile race track in Hampton, Georgia, United States, 20 miles (32 km) south of Atlanta. It has hosted NASCAR Cup Series stock vehicle races since its initiation in 1960.

The initial scenes of the 1980 film Smokey and the Bandit II were shot at the track, as were scenes of the 1983 film Stroker Ace; a 40th commemoration stunt show to recognize the 1977 shooting of the first Smokey and the Bandit in close by Jonesboro, Georgia, was held at AMS in 2017 and went to by Burt Reynolds.

The track was highlighted in the 1982 Kenny Rogers film Six Pack. Previous U.S. President Jimmy Carter once filled in as a ticket taker at the track and went to a few races there as Georgia's lead representative and as U.S. president.

History

The setting was purchased by Speedway Motorsports in 1990. In 1994, 46 townhouses were worked over the northeastern side of the track. In 1997, to normalize the track with Speedway Motorsports' other two middle ovals, the whole track was totally remade.

The frontstretch and backstretch were traded, and the design of the track was changed from oval to quad-oval, with another authority length of 1.54-mile (2.48 km) where before it was 1.522-mile (2.449 km). The project made the track one of the quickest on the NASCAR circuit. It has a seating limit of 71,000 - 125.000 relying upon design.

The track facilitated a NASCAR Cup Series race end of the week yearly on Labor Day weekend from 2009 to 2014. The 2009 move from an October race date to Labor Day weekend was likewise joined by an adjustment in start time, denoting the main NASCAR Cup Series under the lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the arrival of Labor Day weekend NASCAR dashing toward the Southern United States.

Different features of the facility are a quarter-mile track between the pit street and the fundamental track for Legends racing and a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) FIA-endorsed street course. In 1996, the speedway facilitated the Countryfest show, pulling in more than 200,000 fans.

For the vast majority of the 1990s and 2000s, the track flaunted the most elevated velocities on the NASCAR circuit, with a common passing lap speed of around 193 mph (311 km/h), first posted by driver Breton Roussel on June 22, 1990, and a record lap speed of more than 197 mph (317 km/h).

In 2004 and 2005, the likewise planned Texas Motor Speedway saw marginally quicker qualifying times, and as the tracks' individual racing surfaces have worn, qualifying speeds at Texas have gotten reliably quicker than at Atlanta.

2021 Race

Ryan Blaney won the race, driving a Ford. Kyle Larson led for 269 laps, but Blaney overtook him eight laps from the end because Larson's tires were wearing out.

With Blaney’s win, NASCAR had its sixth different champion in its first six races of 2021.

Quick Facts

LocationHenry County, Georgia, at 1500 Tara Place Hampton, GA, 30228
OperatorSpeedway Motorsports, Inc.
Major EventsNASCAR Cup Series

Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500

Quaker State 400

NASCAR Xfinity Series

EchoPark 250

TBA

NASCAR Camping World Truck

Series Fr8Auctions 200

Atlanta Track Club

Atlanta Marathon

Length1.54 mi (2.48 km)
Most WinsDale Earnhardt (9)
Most StartsRichard Petty (65)
PolesBuddy Baker, Ryan Newman (7)